Pig choked to death? (NOT emergency - pig was pts, wanting insight/feedback)

[4boipigs]

This is a long post, but mainly I'm wondering if anyone could give insight to this pig's death. I am in USA and work at a vet that is located in a pet store. Our vets are not exotics vets, but we are required to see any sick pet store animals (that are under the store's care). Someone returned a sick pig at the last minute before I was about to leave for the day yesterday. The vet was gone for the day. It was about 5 minutes until we closed.

First the owner said the pig couldn't walk. The petstore has their process, so the owners had to deal w/ that part first. I didn't see the pig til it was brought over. He was more than 'not walking' - he was flailing and pawing at the air and gasping for air. I'm the 'receptionist' but I've dealt with lots of personal pig issues, but have never seen this. I felt that, if this was my pig, we'd be at the ER and I'd be considering euthanasia. I offered some ERs to the owner, but she said she couldn't afford a vet (very bad sign - she just bought the pig this week and is back with a sick pig, saying she can't afford care). There's nothing we could do at work, and I was about to leave, so after some debate and everyone being stressed out, I decided to take the pig to the ER and pay to have it pts.

The pig was gasping for breath and pawing at the air, eyes were not focused, and he wasn't responding to anything. He was like this probably for 45 minutes (arrival at the store up to arriving at the ER 10 minutes away). I don't know how long he was like this before he got to the pet store. The ER doesn't see exotics, but I had called and they could put him to sleep. By some grace of god, they actually had an exotics vet there, which they rarely do. By the time I got there, they said he was blue and suspected maybe he was choking. When he had arrived at work, his gums were already pale.

I know a certain cause of death can't be given without a necropsy...which in retrospect, I should have done because I am very suspicious the owner/owner's kid did something. The experience really upset me and I'm wondering if anyone may suspect what cause of death was. I'd like to put this behind me but I can't stop thinking about the poor pig and having to deal with this.

 

[piggieminder]

I can't help you medically but I just want to say I am so sorry you had to deal with that. So sad, sending you my best wishes and hugs.

 

[Eriathwen]

I'm so sorry ypu had to deal with that, having had a similar experience which resulted in taking a 3 year break from owning pigs, it can be very traumatic. However it is very common for guinea pigs to act this way when they're passing away 'running to the rainbow bridge' is quite a common reflex, as is the gasping. It is the body attempting to make a last ditch effort to get oxygen to the brain. Usually they're completely unaware at this stage, which in the moment doesn't make it any less horrible to witness.

This guide may be helpful, it goes into the signs of death and the process etc.
A Practical and Sensitive Guide to Dying, Terminal Illness and Euthanasia in Guinea Pigs

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome

HUGS

What a caring person you are! I am so sorry for the traumatic experience.

It impossible for us to say what has happened. With choking, the legs would not give way first but something catastrophic must have clearly happened as the piggy was well on the way of dying with the heart failing/bursting and the lack of oxygen causing the limbs to jerk (we call this stage 'running to the Rainbow Bridge'), which could also account for the choking. I can be very upsetting to watch, having been through it with one of mine.

But whatever was going on, you have done absolutely the right and kindest thing to spare him any further unnecessary suffering.

You may find the link in the previous post helpful in making a bit more sense of your experience. Please be kind with yourself in the coming days while you are grieving and dealing with the trauma.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this and I can imagine just how upset you must be feeling. You sound so caring, thank you for taking that little piggie to the vets, even though there was nothing that could be done but put him out of the stress and pain he was probably under.
I know you have your suspicion, it did sound like he was clearly struggling to breathe, perhaps he had swallowed something that stuck in his throat? such a shame, sending you big hugs for stepping x

Sleep tight little soul

 

[Merab]

So sorry for your experience.
It must have been so distressing for you.
Horrible though it was you showed that little piggy love and compassion.
You are grieving so be gentle with yourself.

 

[4boipigs]

Thanks for all the kind words. I am still stressed out about it. He may not have been 'my' pig, but he was still someone to me. I never heard of their twitching paws as running to the Rainbow Bridge, but I really like that way of thinking so I'll be keeping it in mind for myself and others when it happens.

 

[dhill_cb7]

I’m really sorry you experienced this. I cannot imagine anyone having to deal with this but yet as piggy owners this could be reality for any of ours.
Hugs and just know you are a kind and caring person who wanted nothing more than what was best for the piggy.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for all the kind words. I am still stressed out about it. He may not have been 'my' pig, but he was still someone to me. I never heard of their twitching paws as running to the Rainbow Bridge, but I really like that way of thinking so I'll be keeping it in mind for myself and others when it happens.

If you continue to feel traumatised, please google for free pet bereavement services/groups or for PTSD support groups. Talking is the best you can do for yourself.

It may not have been your own guinea pig, but you are quite obviously a very person; this is not the kind of situation you can just walk away from.

 

[Flutterby]

I'm so sorry for your loss xx

 

[Swissgreys]

PTS? Put to sleep?


I want to commend you on your admirable treatment of animals but also ask you to try and extend your empathy in a direction that seems to be absent from most people on this board:
stop demonizing people that don't leap at the chance to spend huge amounts of money on pets they just got!
Everyone is always saying "if you're not prepared to spend thousands of dollars on a pig, you don't deserve to have one"
I can't stand this smug condescending attitude. A big irony is that it's often accompanied with "those monsters should be strung up" (just read that in a different post).
Again- what you did was a nice gesture, but the high handed way everyone sneers down their nose at people that won't automatically spend a months rent on a cute little furball makes me unhappy..

I'm not looking for a response and I'm not looking to argue, so please don't.

Firstly if you are not looking for a response then please don't post.
The whole point of the Forum is to share different points of view and engage in discussion - if people didin't respond to other posts then there wouldn't be a Forum. We can all learn and benefit from the advice of others.

Secondly owning a guinea pig (or indeed any animal) comes with a legal responsibility to ensure that they receive adequate care throughout their lives.
This includes medical care that is necessary to prevent suffering.
No one is saying you need to spend thousands every time - sometimes having an animal humanly put to sleep to end it's suffering really is the best option.
Some of us do spend thousands on our guinea pigs and some of us don't, but allowing an animal to suffer is never acceptable.
If you can not make the provision to seek appropriate medical care for your pets, then you really shouldn't have them.

 

[BossHogg]

PTS? Put to sleep?


I want to commend you on your admirable treatment of animals but also ask you to try and extend your empathy in a direction that seems to be absent from most people on this board:
stop demonizing people that don't leap at the chance to spend huge amounts of money on pets they just got!
Everyone is always saying "if you're not prepared to spend thousands of dollars on a pig, you don't deserve to have one"
I can't stand this smug condescending attitude. A big irony is that it's often accompanied with "those monsters should be strung up" (just read that in a different post).
Again- what you did was a nice gesture, but the high handed way everyone sneers down their nose at people that won't automatically spend a months rent on a cute little furball makes me unhappy..

I'm not looking for a response and I'm not looking to argue, so please don't.

Dont worry, you're not getting a response - only a ban, I'm sick of your bullshit - goodbye.

 

[Freela]

Unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure what might have happened, short of an autopsy. As others have said above, I've seen the 'running for the bridge' sign in pigs who are dying of natural causes (i.e. not trauma or choking.) Lack of oxygen to the brain can make them suddenly restless or panicky too, usually fairly shortly before death. Poor piggie may have suffered a trauma of some kind, but may also have had a congenital heart issue, lung disease, or any number of other issues. I'm sorry you had to witness that in the course of your work day and that you had to take the poor little guy to be put to sleep. You did the right thing. ((HUGS)) to you.